St. Louis Rams not going to London in 2013-14 in order to focus on stadium issue

St. Louis, MO (KSDK) - The St. Louis Rams has declined an invitation to play a home game in the 2013 and 2014 regular seasons in London in order to focus on issues relating to the Edward Jones Dome.

At present, the team is heading to arbitration with the CVC over the Edward Jones Dome. In June, the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission voted to begin the arbitration process.

Negotiations began in February with the CVC proposing $124 million in dome improvements. The Rams countered with a much broader plan that city leaders said would cost $700 million.

Under the terms of the lease, if the Dome is not among the top tier of NFL facilities the Rams will be free to leave after the 2014 season.

The St. Louis Rams will still play the New England Patriots on October 28, 2012 in Wembley Stadium. The game in London will be the first international game for the Rams since a 1990 game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Berlin, Germany's Olympiastadion.

Donna Andrews, Director of Public Relations for the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission released the following statement to NewsChannel 5:
"Since the agreement between the Rams and CVC enabled the Rams to play a single home game in London in 2012, the Rams' decision to cancel plans with the NFL for additional home games in London in 2013 and 2014 has no impact on first-tier negotiations."